Content:

Ms. Xie suggested that to optimize team management, we needed to clarify the fixed group and charter and emphasize the leader's responsibility. At the same time, members of the technical group were encouraged to use innovative methods to generate ideas, like using analogies. In the group report, only the key progress was shared, and a dedicated person was in charge of feedback. Ms. Xie also suggested setting up "project bins" to hold projects that might show potential. In terms of the way of thinking, Ms. Xie emphasized problem-based solutions and recommended that we consult relevant experts to deepen our understanding of the issue. Lastly, Ms. Xie promoted the use of quantitative scoring systems, especially focusing on refining scenarios and making solutions more concrete to ensure assessment accuracy.

Ref lect:

To optimize teamwork, we adopted fixed groups, set clear charters, and invited students from multiple fields to participate in discussions. There were weekly project feedback and work progress checks to ensure team continuity and timely feedback. In terms of thinking mode, we emphasized being problem-oriented, took an iterative optimization approach, and understood problems through in-depth interviews. At the same time, the concretization of scenarios and products was the key to our decision-making.

Outlook:

We learned about some team management methods and decided to adopt them. We believe that more detailed management methods are needed, so we will continue with subsequent interviews.

Content:

The teacher advised us that when evaluating the fish corruption detection project at HKUST, we first need to ensure that the detection process itself is accurate. However, from a consumer perspective, they might feel that this kind of testing adds extra costs. That is, while real-time food freshness display technology has its value, if consumers can judge the freshness of food through their senses, then the actual benefits of this technology might be limited. Considering these points, the teacher suggested that we use the Analytic Hierarchy Process to assess the relative importance of the project.

Ref lect:

After discussing the corruption detection project with the teacher, we realized that when considering the implementation of the project, we need to conduct an in-depth study of the upstream and downstream of the supply chain. It's especially important to pay attention to whether the implementation of the project will lead to new issues or result in resource waste.

Through the teacher's introduction, we gained a deeper understanding of the Analytic Hierarchy Process and decided to apply this method for interviewing experts after the project is defined. This can not only help us gain a deeper understanding of the project's strengths and weaknesses but also guide us to more clearly identify areas that need focus and improvement.

We recognized that the weighted average scheme has its inherent flaws, making us realize that we can't solely rely on this scheme for project evaluation. In order to obtain a more comprehensive and accurate assessment, we decided to consult other experts and teachers for their opinions, hoping they could provide more guidance and suggestions for us.

Outlook:

Professor Liu Baolong introduced evaluation methods such as the Analytic Hierarchy Process to us, and we will incorporate them into our weekly group meetings. However, the Analytic Hierarchy Process requires substantial data support, and there's a need to consider merging some evaluation criteria; the project needs a more straightforward and practical evaluation method. In the end, the professor advised us to consult with Professor Hong Suting for further guidance and suggestions.

Content:

The teacher advised us that when pursuing quantitative assessment methods for the test kit, we must recognize that complete objectivity is challenging to achieve. We need to clarify our goals and ensure all strategies and decisions are directed towards them. In the innovation competition, we should place more emphasis on the quality of the projects rather than just their quantity. This requires us to deeply understand potential conflicts, genuine needs, and relevant background situations when selecting projects. The teacher offered a concise and efficient evaluation method: have each project described on a single sheet of paper and allocate one minute for an oral introduction, including the project's background, analysis, and proposed solutions. After all the presentations are done, conduct a silent vote to determine the most appealing projects. Furthermore, the teacher pointed out that we spent too much time on non-essential content during discussions, reducing efficiency. In the entrepreneurial journey, technology is ever-evolving; we shouldn't get overly engrossed in the details but should exhibit a more open mindset, innovate boldly, and try new ideas and strategies.

Ref lect:

We gained a new way of judging projects that needed to be screened and evaluated like an hourglass.

Based on MS.Hong's suggestion, we decided to adopt the following discussion methods to improve the efficiency of the meeting:

• Project Debriefing: The debriefing time for each project is controlled within 5 to 7 minutes, ensuring that the content is concise and in-depth.

• Fill out the questionnaire: Team members should fill out the questionnaire immediately after each debriefing, and this "cooling-off period" can help everyone evaluate the project more objectively.

• Question-and-answer session: Questions are limited to 5 minutes, which requires the presenter to be thorough and focused.

Outlook:

Ms. Hong provided us with the method of judging the project, which provided us with great convenience for the subsequent determination of the topic. At the same time, we also improved our regular meeting format according to the teacher's suggestion, so as to achieve higher discussion efficiency.

Content:

Ms. Hong said that, relatively speaking, indoor conditions such as constant temperature are more suitable for our ambient lighting design, combined with the direction of sustainability and spiritual healing, the target users are young white-collar workers and customers in bars and high-end restaurants. The teacher suggested that we consider working with a soft furnizer or niche design company and connect with a supplier in a bar or restaurant. Regarding commercialization, Ms. Hong suggested that we weigh the decision to apply for a patent, while considering the standardization of products and the mode of cooperation. Potential competitors are mainly solar cells.

Ref lect:

Through interviews, we recognized the possible risks of outdoor use, such as algae growth, maintenance and safety issues. In addition, we plan to optimize the design, taking into account product cycle management, cooperate with furniture and design companies, and at the same time incorporate the application scenarios of indoor mood lighting and ensure the safety of the project.

Outlook:

Ms. Hong Suting provided new ideas for the commercialization of our project, and also clarified the direction of the enterprise we need to contact later.

Content:

After listening to our project overview, Mr. Yang Jidong pointed out that the application scenarios and social values of our project were not clear enough. He suggested that we consider the value points and application areas of the project from a broader social level, such as the 17 Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations. Mr. Yang emphasized that a meaningful project needs to combine practical technical principles, application scenarios and its social value. He proposed that we clarify the boundaries of the project's technology and the capabilities of the team, determine technical indicators such as illumination standards, refractive efficiency, and quantum-added luminous intensity, and consider the influence of external factors such as environment, color, and weather. At the same time, node control of project management is also the key, to find a balance between ideal and reality. Finally, Mr. Yang reminded us to broaden our horizons, consider the global application of the project, and think about whether we need to recruit more partners to meet the project goals.

Ref lect:

We recognized that we should broaden our horizons. In terms of application scenarios, HP students should assist in identifying suitable applications to reduce the burden of experimentation. Furthermore, we need to establish standards and objectives that align with societal values, which fits with the iGEM principle: "How does your work impact the world, and how does the world impact your work?"

Outlook:

After the interview, we clarified the product features of our project and which track of the iGEM our project should belong to.

Content:

During the interview, Ms. Yang mentioned that if you want to productize the project, you need to consider the possible biological leakage and gene leakage of cyanobacteria in daily cultivation. At the same time, Ms. Yang informed the experimental operations that needed to be paid attention to in the laboratory.

Ref lect:

Through this interview, we realized that the most important security issue we face is the need to prevent possible biological invasions caused by the exposure of genetically modified organisms. This means that we may need a piece of hardware that can monitor leaks of luminescent cyanobacteria. At the same time, Ms. Yang also pointed out that when we face mass production and industrialization, we need to make replicable supporting training programs in advance.

Outlook:

Professor Yang's guidance made our experimental operations more standardized, ensuring lab safety. This interview also reminded us of the need to ensure the safety of the product during use, so we also need to conduct further interviews regarding outdoor safety.

Content:

Professor Sun pointed out that the primary potential environmental risk of the model bacteria we used stemmed from antibiotics, while the inherent biological hazard of the cyanobacteria to the environment was very low, classified as the lowest risk level. Although there's a minor possibility that microbes might absorb DNA and develop antibiotic resistance, this chance is very slim, and it's unlikely to have a substantial impact in practical terms. Even if the cyanobacteria were to leak into the environment, they would likely adapt and eventually reach an equilibrium with their surroundings. Regarding the disposal of used cyanobacteria, he recommended sterilizing them before discharge to further mitigate the risk. Using modern technology to trace gene flow wasn't deemed necessary for our experiment. Thus, our research didn't need to pay extra attention to many safety concerns, nor did we have to design additional kill switches.

Professor Li, on the other hand, reminded us that the disposal of solid waste should also follow the principle of high-temperature and high-pressure sterilization. We could refer to the official biosafety standards of EHS to improve our protocols.

Ref lect:

The safety precautions of the igem luminous cyanobacteria project were clarified. At the same time, Professor Sun expressed his willingness to provide follow-up help to the igem team.

Outlook:

Although the suggestions made by the two teachers helped us a lot, there were still some questions for us, such as whether cyanobacteria could be discarded at will because of its low risk. In the future, we will continue to conduct detailed interviews on the ideas put forward by the teachers, and we also hope to confirm some areas that we think have doubts through the interviews.

Content:

In this interview, we further consulted Professor Chen on the need to prevent cyanobacteria leakage. Professor Chen told us that the harm of antibiotic resistance genes is immeasurable, so it is necessary to pay attention to the problem of leakage protection when conducting research. We also consulted Professor Chen on some of the more common leak prevention methods from the two aspects of laboratory leak prevention and leak prevention when putting into the environment. Professor Chen told us that the engineered bacteria in the lab require two people to work with them. He also suggested that we should include internal and external elimination steps in future products to ensure that genetically modified cyanobacteria do not leak into the environment.

In addition, we also verified the correctness of our preliminary idea of hardware design from Professor Chen, and Professor Chen also gave us some suggestions on hardware. For example, we can further improve the safety of our products by internal and external elimination, and at the same time use some means to detect the final anti-leakage effect.

Ref lect:

Through this interview, we further determined the necessity of leak prevention of transgenic cyanobacteria, and further standardized our experimental operation, greatly reducing the possibility of environmental harm caused by our laboratory. At the same time, we also confirmed the feasibility of mimicking the fermenter design hardware and learned that we can further improve the safety of our products by internal and external elimination, and the effect of elimination needs to be further tested.

Outlook:

While we understood the need to test for disinfection efficacy, the specifics of how to conduct the tests left us somewhat perplexed. Therefore, we hoped to consult on the detailed testing methods in our next interview.

Content:

Professor Gao Yan asked us about the structure of the two expression plasmids, analyzed the current protein expression situation, and proposed the solution of adding terminators after luxAB to try to separate the expression.

Ref lect:

After the interview, we tried the expression of Pgen plasmid and added terminators to the end of luxAB to try to separate the expression, and finally the target strain fluorescently.

Content:

Regarding the issue of removing blue-green algae pollution, the professor pointed out that purifying the algal species is a very time-consuming process. The best method is to streak and pick single clones. Centrifugal washing can also be done during sub-culturing, with a recommended speed of 4000rpm. Professor Zhao believes that the primary reason for the color change in blue-green algae is due to changes in chlorophyll, possibly because of poor growth conditions, stress, prolonged culture time resulting in decreased activity, or contamination by protozoans. The professor reminded us to pay attention to the light intensity, temperature, shaking speed, medium, and inoculation cell density when culturing blue-green algae. An appropriate light intensity is a few hundred to three thousand lux or 100miu/square centimeter. The professor agreed with the assertion that contamination could lead to a low transformation rate and suggested trying electroporation.

Regarding product design, Professor Zhao thinks the LAMPS product is significantly influenced by the environment. When designing the product, it's essential to ensure sufficient cell density to guarantee adequate light emission duration (provided there's enough energy from the environmental conditions). It would be beneficial to provide a nutrient solution to sustain algal growth to compensate for outdoor conditions' shortcomings. Additionally, it's crucial to supplement the experiment with relevant market data on bioluminescence to provide a comprehensive proof of concept.

Ref lect:

In terms of experimentation, we reduced the light intensity and temperature in the photobioreactor, and the growth condition of the newly transformed blue-green algae on solid medium has improved. We also tried electroporation and cleaned the blue-green algae during sub-culturing and transformation.

Regarding product design, we considered introducing a nutrient solution to mitigate the environment's impact on algal growth. This idea has enhanced the stability of our product's luminescence.

Content:

The professor answered our questions in his email.

The professor mentioned that instead of using IPTG to induce for a few hours, they slowly allowed protein expression by incubating it for a longer period of time (60 hours or more). This lack of IPTG-induced leakage and slow expression may be more conducive to protein folding and chromophore maturation in the collection of fluorescent proteins. The professor cautions that control samples to be prepared for plasmid construction and expression (e.g., GFP expression vectors designed and cloned in a similar manner to lux constructs) and control samples to be used for luminescence detection (e.g., lux expression vectors from Addgene) need to be considered.

Ref lect:

We added EL splice (2AA) between luxB protein and Venus protein. At the same time, the expression vector was further improved.

Content:

The professor believed that the ESG certification was not suitable for our project. They suggested that we should benchmark against similar companies, investigate whether these companies have environmental certifications, or look for technical certifications related to blue-green algae. The professor thought that the project itself might not generate significant profits and might exist more as a concept for future new energy sources. For this reason, the professor recommended that we try to contact the government and seek cooperation with them.

Ref lect:

Upon realizing that ESG is a certification related to corporations and might not be suitable for our project, based on the professor's advice, we planned to research certifications related to blue-green algae technology.

Moreover, understanding the professor's concerns about our project, especially regarding its application scenarios, we decided to actively engage with the government to seek collaboration and interview opportunities. We also conducted a further analysis of the lighting market to identify appropriate application scenarios for our project.

Outlook:

After this interview, we decided to learn more about the requirements for technical certification.

Content:

Ms.Xue suggested that we apply for a patent for the invention because it requires more innovation. The teacher then mentioned patentability requirements, including novelty, attraction, and creativity, suggesting a search using the patent database to determine whether the requirements are met.

Regarding the application process, the teacher explained the documents and forms that need to be submitted, as well as the review time and the process of responding to review comments. In terms of cost, China's patent maintenance cost is low, while foreign costs are high, you can consider partners or commercialization to share the cost.

In terms of international applications, the teacher mentioned the PCT pathway, which can decide which countries' patents to apply for after the international phase. Finally, the teacher suggested considering business needs, market layout, and partners when formulating patent strategy, and applying for patents selectively according to specific circumstances.

Ref lect:

This talk provided us with a comprehensive guide to patent applications and a patent application form that helped us better understand the patent application process and strategy development. We were planning to apply for a utility patent, and through this interview we learned the type of patent that was most suitable for us. Since the products of our project are globally oriented, we decided to apply for a patent through the PCT route. And we knew that we needed to develop a patent strategy to help our project grow in the future.

Outlook:

Through this interview, we have preliminarily confirmed the direction of the patent application. After that, we will also conduct a technical review of our project and further prepare for patent application. This will be reflected in the business plan.

Content:

In this interview, Mr. Liu mentioned that liquid luminaries need to take into special consideration the thickness of the liquid, the color and whether it will affect the propagation of light and other factors. In addition, he also reminded us that if we want to realize the commercialization of the project, we need to consider cost control, biological stability and the brightness of the light source. In addition, Mr. Liu also said that he recognized the concept of our project and was willing to continue to provide help for our project.

Ref lect:

Through this interview, we found that the previous consideration is not comprehensive enough, and the liquid luminescent body and the solid luminescent body are not the same, which means that we need to consider more factors.

We realize that the real marketization is very different from the usual experiments, which is mainly reflected in the additional product requirements brought by the market selection and the cost control oriented by the profit purpose. If we really want to go to market, it also means that we need to continue to optimize the performance of the product and find ways to reduce our costs.

In addition, this interview also found a potential partner for our project - Hunan Zedong Lite-Treasure Lighting Co., LTD.

Outlook:

Through this interview, we have a preliminary understanding of the characteristics of lighting products, as well as the requirements to enter the lighting market. But we realize that these things are very far away from us, we are in the position of researchers, and how to transition from research to commercialization is also a problem that we need to consider. Therefore, we hope to understand in detail the docking process of scientific research and mass production in the next interview with the LED lamp research and development company.

Content:

Mr. Xu said that general lighting research and development will take different research methods according to different application scenarios: in the face of large public places or enterprises, developers will conduct corresponding research according to the requirements of the other side; In the face of mass users, developers often choose to cooperate with research companies to publish questionnaire collection needs.

He also introduced that the luminous principle of lLED is to uses the combined chip to stimulate yellow phosphor to emit light, and also provided new inspiration for our project to convert blue light into yellow light.

In addition, Mr. Xu also reminded us that in the quantification process, researchers also need to write SOP and BOM.

Ref lect:

This interview helped to understand the key breakthrough directions of potential competitors and also brought inspiration to our project. In addition, this interview also gives us a preliminary understanding of the docking of scientific research and quantitative production.

Content:

The person in charge at Pin Guang believed that if we were to continue promoting the project with a business entrepreneurial mindset, it was crucial for us to focus on creating a demo that clearly conveys the product's value to potential consumers.

They also provide several recommended directions for demo production:

• Scenarios related to water.

• Ambient lighting or decorative lighting for exhibitions/events.

• Art installations or products themed around "growth."

• Lighting sets or hardware for stories themed around "nature/environmental protection."

The Pin Guang representative suggested that we should have considered the government as our primary target user.

Ref lect:

We decided to do small mock-ups for product development and design more specific scenarios/stories/user groups. At the same time we started contacting the government for interviews

Content:

Of course, investors also strongly agreed with our business model aimed at 2G. At the same time, investors reminded us that when investing, they are more concerned about cost calculations and a clear business model. Therefore, when drafting a business plan, it's crucial to specify pain points and needs and have precise positioning. The investors shared with us a vital entrepreneurial phrase: "What technology did we use, what problem did we solve, and in what form does our product exist to serve whom we are selling to?" This conversation gave the team a clearer understanding of the commercialization process and steps for microalgae technology.

Ref lect:

We had a clear definition for writing the business plan. We approached the business model by considering "what technology we used, what problems we solved, and in what form our product will be presented, and who our target customers are." Through the interview, we understood that investors tend to focus more on the product's technology and specifications when considering investment. This guided the laboratory in designing experiments to measure relevant parameters.

Content:

In this interview, Mr. Zhou first affirmed our project. He believes that it is very necessary to develop environmental protection functions based on existing mature daily necessities. He believes that if there are more environmentally friendly daily necessities, the global environment will be better.

We also asked Mr. Zhou for his views on the current lighting waste problem and the pollution generated by the production of lamps and lanterns. Mr Zhou says the problems are not very serious at the moment because of state regulation.

In addition, we also consulted Mr. Zhou about what conditions we need to meet if we want to cooperate with the government to become a large-scale lighting tool. He said that the most important aspects have two points. The first point is cost control, the second point is the lighting effect. If we want to develop into a large-scale lighting tool, we need to focus on breaking through these two aspects.

Ref lect:

This interview helped us further affirm the purpose of our project - to make the world a better place. In addition, we also got inspiration from Mr. Zhou and found the direction we need to study in the future. In short, we need to improve the superiority of the product itself, in order to better let our products occupy a certain share of the market.

Outlook:

Through the communication with Mr. Zhou, we found that our products are still a long way from large-scale use. We hope to continuously try to reduce the cost of the product and improve the performance of the product in the follow-up experiments, so as to increase the possibility of large-scale use of our product.